Climate therapy

Greenhouse gas emissions are rising at the fastest rate in three decades. Meteorologists warn the world is running out of time. In this episode, the Down to Earth team explores innovative solutions to halt carbon dioxide output and rein in climate change.

In Washington, one woman has challenged herself to raise a baby with a zero carbon footprint, and succeeded.

While cutting emissions is a priority, scientists and engineers are also looking at techniques to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

From a coal-fired power plant in Canada to a car that can run on fuel using CO2 plucked from the air, we investigate whether it’s time to consider a climate technofix.

The ultimate technological fix is known as geoengineering, described as a deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate system. Those in favour want to halt global warming by limiting the amount of sunlight that reaches the earth, using giant space mirrors, reflective clouds or by spraying sulphuric acid into the upper atmosphere.